Everyone stares in stunned silence at Stefan. Time has stoppedbetween
heartbeats. Laura manages to make her way to Nikolas' side. Sheplaces a
hand on his shoulder, but he is oblivious to the contact. He stares,unbelieving, at the blood pooling next to Stefan's body.
Nikolas takes a step towards Stefan, but is held back by theguards.
At Helena's command, one of the guards pulls Laura back away fromNikolas.
Miranda breaks down and starts to cry. - You shot him! How could youshoot
your own son?
Helena- It was necessary. He thought to overthrow me.
Miranda pushes past one of the guards and goes to Stefan's side.She
slowly reaches out a hand to his neck and feels for a pulse.
Miranda- He's dead. You killed him! You killed your own son!
Nikolas feels his world spinning out of control.
Nikolas- No! Uncle, you can't be dead! You promised! You promised youwould never leave me!
In the confusion, no one notices that Hank has awakened. He pretendsto
still be asleep.
Nikolas tries once again to get to Stefan, but the guard refuses. Hesinks
to his knees in defeat. He looks at Leslie through his tears andpain.
Nikolas- You're a doctor, you can do something to save him!Please!
Leslie shows Lucky where to apply pressure to Amy's wounds then shestands and takes the afghan of the back of the chair and walks overto Stefan. She covers his upper body with the afghan and feels for apulse at his wrist and then his neck. She makes eye contact withMiranda for a moment before getting up and going to kneel next toNikolas.
Nikolas shakes his head, No. Tears are streaming down his face.
Leslie- I'm sorry, there's nothing I can do. He is dead.
She pulls him close to her as she soothes him. She speaks quietly tohim.
Leslie- He loved you. When he came to see me, all he talked about wasyou.
Her voice getting quieter with each word. Until finally she waswhispering
so that only he could hear, her voice covered by the sounds of hissobs.
**********************************************************
Mac and Sheriff Turner watched the shooting through the window.
Mac- Damn! Sheriff, we have got to get in there now, are your men inplace?
Sheriff- Almost, I'm still waiting for...
He was interrupted by his radio. He talks on it a few minutes andgives
instructions to the deputy on the other end.
Sheriff- That was them. Everyone's in place. I still think we shouldlet
the sniper take out the old lady. She seems to be the one incharge.
Mac- And when you do, her men will kill everyone in that room. We'vegot
too many innocent hostages to think about.
Sheriff- I suppose your right. I got to tell you, this is a first forme.
A grandmother terrorizing her own family.
Mac- From what I understand, this is no ordinary grandmother. Let'ssee
how many we can take out without attracting attention, shall we?
Sheriff- Just say the word.
**********************************************************
Helena- Enough of this foolishness! Nikolas, I will not have youbehaving
like a spoiled child.
Laura- My God! You just killed the only father he ever knew, and youexpect
him not to grieve? I was right all along, you really don't have aheart.
Can't you see how much he is hurting?
Helena- Do not concern yourself with his pain, Lasha. I assure you,it is
only temporary. Soon, his pain will be eliminated.
Laura- No, I won't allow you to use him like a lab rat.
Helena laughs- I do not intend to experiment on him. The processis
perfected. Your sister is proof of that. Tell me, Lasha, how does itfeel
to know that your son will remember only his hatred for you! Whichmemory should I enhance? Perhaps the day you told him to his face hehad no part in your life? No, I think not. I believe the day he foundout your death was ruse to hurt him. Yes... that will be the perfectday.
Laura- How could you do that do him?
Helena- The question is how could you? It is of no importance now, heis
mine. I will have complete control of him.
Miranda- He's just a boy, don't do this to him.
Nikolas- It won't work, grandmother. I will never follow you, I don'tcare
what you do to me.
Helena merely looked at his tear stained face and smiled.
Helena- We shall see, little one, we shall see.
Gunshots can be heard outside.
Miranda- Mac!
Laura- Apparently Stefan didn't come alone. They won't let youleave.
Helena aims her gun at Nikolas and commands him to stand.
Helena- I don't think they will risk injuring the boy, do you?
She is interrupted by the sound of a helicopter landing very close tothe
back porch.
Helena- Come Nikolas, it is time for us to leave.
To the guards she said- You have your instructions.
Nikolas takes a step and hesitates. He holds onto the chair forsupport.
Helena- Nikolas, I do not have time for your tantrum.
Nikolas- I'm not... I don't feel well.
One of the guards catches him as he falls.
Laura- Nikolas!
Miranda- Look what you did to him!
Helena tells two of the guards- You will have to carry him. Let us beon
our way.
Another of the guards puts away his gun and wraps Nikolas' arm aroundhis neck. He is being supported between the two. Helena leads them byStefan's body.
When she is next to him, an arm reaches out and grabs her leg. Shescreams as she is tripped and falls to the floor. Stefan struggleswith her for her gun. He forces her arm over her head and hits it onthe floor. She drops the gun and Stefan pushes it away. He has beenshot in the left arm and is bleeding profusely. Still he clutches herthroat.
Stefan- He will be free of you!
At the same time the windows break and the Sheriff's men enterthrough
them, lead by Mac and Sheriff Turner. Mac shoots two of the guards.Hank
springs to his feet and attacks one of the guards. While Laura grabsa
lamp and hits another guard over the head. Leslie shields Amy fromthe
melee. Lucky jumps on the back of one of Nikolas' guards and triesto
strangle him. Nikolas elbows the other guard and grabs his gun.Miranda
helps Lucky by kneeing the guard in the groin and Lucky takes hisgun.
Soon all of Helena's men are subdued. Nikolas grabs Stefan's handsand
pulls them away from Helena.
Nikolas- Uncle, let go! You can't do this!
Stefan- I have to make sure she does no more harm.
Nikolas- No, you can't sink to her level. You're not like her, you'renot
a killer!
Nikolas grabs Stefan and shakes him.
Nikolas- I won't let you do this! I love you too much.
Slowly Stefan releases his hold and Helena gasp for breath.
Stefan- I pray that we both do not regret our decision.
He reaches out to Nikolas and pulls him into an embrace.
Helena- Enjoy your reunion while you can. This is not over.
Stefan lunges at Helena but is pulled off her by the sheriff'sdeputies.
Sheriff Turner helps Helena up, then puts handcuffs on her and readsher
rights to her.
Her men have already been taken out to the police cars.
Nikolas- I thought you were dead.
Stefan- I know, but it was necessary. I would have done anything tokeep
you from reliving that pain.
Nikolas- It doesn't matter. Leslie told me the truth.
Stefan- You hid it well, I'm proud of you for keeping your headand
pretending to feint. It forced two of the guards to put away theirguns.
Nikolas laughs- I'm not sure I faked it.
Leslie interrupts them- Stefan, your bleeding. Let me look at yourarm.
Nikolas, why don't you go check on Laura?
Nikolas gives Leslie as quick hug. - Thank you for what you did.For... helping me, when I thought Uncle was ...
Leslie kisses him on the cheek.- That's what real grandmothers arefor. Now let me tend to your uncle, and you tend to your mother.
Nikolas searches through the crowd of deputies and finds Laurasitting on
the couch holding Lulu. She stands and smiles when she sees him.
Nikolas- Is she okay?
Laura- I think so, she didn't even cry through the whole thing.
Lucky- That's our sister, tough as nails and nerves of steel. Whydon't I
take her upstairs and see if she will take a nap.
Laura- That's a good idea. Thank you.
Lucky- No problem.
Lucky takes Lulu from Laura and goes upstairs.
Laura- Are you alright?
Nikolas- I'm fine, Mother. Are you?
Laura smiles radiantly- Yes, I'm fine too...I never thought I wouldhear
you call me Mother again. I hope this means you are giving meanother
chance.
Nikolas- After all we been through, I think it's time, don't you?
Laura - Yes, yes I do.
She starts to cry and hugs him. They hold on to each other, neitherwanting
to break the embrace.
Laura- Nikolas, I swear to you, I will never give you another reasonto
call me anything else. I swear it. I love you so much.
Nikolas- I love you too. I always have.
Laura- I know, I know.
An ambulance arrives to take Amy and Stefan to the hospital.
Stefan- Leslie, I want to thank you for your help.
Miranda- Yes and it was quick thinking on your part to cover him withthe
afghan.
Stefan- You knew didn't you? You knew Miranda was lying before youchecked on me.
Leslie- There was no blood on your chest. Your arm was bleeding, butnot
your chest. I was afraid Helena would notice.
Stefan- Apparently you are more observant than she, but it was betternot
to leave it to chance.
Mac- I'm just glad I insisted you wear the bullet proof vest.
Stefan- So am I commissioner, so am I.
**********************************************************
The group finally arrives back in Port Charles. Amy, Stefan andNikolas
have been airlifted to General Hospital. Leslie goes with themwhile
Laura, Miranda and Lucky go
to the Port Charles Police Department to give their statements. Rubymeets them there and takes Lulu home. Mac takes Laura and Lucky'sstatement, while Taggert questions Miranda. Helena and her men havebeen transferred and are being processed. Laura finishes with herstatement in time to see Helena being finger-printed. Helena looks ather hands with disdain, but is otherwise calm.
Helena- You think you've won, don't you?
Laura- Don't worry, I'm not foolish enough to underestimate you.Stefan
should have killed you.
Helena laughs- Perhaps you are smarter than I gave you credit for. SoI
will advise you to enjoy what time you have with him. Because I willtake him from you.
Laura slaps her hard- No you won't. He's my son. You can never takethat
away from me, because I won't let you.
Helena- We shall see.
Mac witnesses them from across the room and orders Helena taken toher
cell.
Laura- Thank you Mac, I was about ready to strangle her.
Mac- So I noticed, as much as I would like to see it, I can't reallyallow
my prisoner's to be slapped around. But hey, I didn't see athing.
Laura tries to hide her smile and gives up- Thanks Mac, but I have totell
you, it felt so good. I've wanted to do that for years.
Mac laughs- I'll bet.
He is silent for a few minutes, he debates with himself if he shouldsay
anything.
Mac- You haven't seen Luke since he was brought in. If you want to, Ican
let you use my office to talk to him.
Laura- I would like that, thank you. We have a lot to talk about.
Laura goes to Mac's office and does not have to wait long, beforeLuke is
brought in.
Luke- I just saw the queen of the beast being processed. You going totell
me what happened? Is everyone alright?
Laura- No, Amy and Stefan were shot. Nikolas was readmitted tothe
hospital.
Luke- I'm sorry about Amy, but please tell me the Bat is six feetunder.
Laura is enraged - After all we've been through in the last threeweeks and your stupid feud is all you can think about?
Luke- Calm down woman! Are you forgetting who we are dealing with?Don't let the Cassadines fool you.
Laura- You said Cassadines, plural. Do you count my son among the
untrustworthy?
Luke- Yes! Now that you mention it. If it weren't for that kid, myfamily
would never have been at risk.
Laura- If it weren't for that kid, Lulu would be dead.
Luke- Woman, we've been through this before.
Laura- No, I let you bully me before, but no more. You are notforcing me
to choose between Nikolas and the rest of my family. It's you whohave to
choose. Either accept
my son or don't come home at all.
Luke- You don't know what you saying!
Laura- I know exactly what I'm saying. I finally have a chance to beapart
of his life and I'm not giving him up for anyone, not even you. Soyou
think long and hard on how important I am to you. And don't bothertry poisoning Lucky against his brother either. They finally workedthrough their problems and I won't let you interfere with theirrelationship either. Let me know what you decide.
Laura walks out leaving Luke to ponder his options.
**********************************************************
Chapter 30: Epilogue
Laura signs for the package, gives the delivery man a nice tip andhurries
to the couch to open it. Leslie joins her, also excited.
Leslie- I can't believe it finally got here, I can't wait to seeit.
Laura- Me too. I never thought it would happen in a millionyears.
Laura nervously opens the carton and takes out the portrait of allthree of
her children together.
Leslie- It's beautiful!
Laura starts to cry- It is isn't it. Lucky and Nikolas look sohandsome.
And of course Lulu is an angel.
Laura immediately takes down the portrait of Lucky and Lulu over themantel and hang the new one with all three of her children.
Luke comes downstairs pulling on a jacket. He stops when he seesthe
portrait.
Laura beams at him- Luke, what do you think?
Luke- It's nice. I like it.
Laura- Really?
Luke- Really. It's a cool picture of the kids.
Laura- That means a lot to me. Thank you.
Luke- No problem, babe. I better go upstairs and hurry up Lucky, orwe
will be late.
Leslie waits until Luke is gone.
Leslie- How did your visit with Amy go?
Laura- It went okay. She doesn't remember anything that happenedsince
Helena got hold of her. But Gail thinks she can deprogram her.
Leslie- Is she going to be in trouble now?
Laura- No, I don't think so. Alexis is going to be her lawyer. Ithink
Nikolas talked her into it.
Laura looks at her watch and then toward the stairs.
Laura- What's taking them so long. I don't want to be late for ourfirst
dinner as a family.
Leslie- Don't worry, the Port Charles grill will still be there. AndI
don't think Nikolas and his family will leave if we are five minuteslate.
Laura- Your right, of course, but I want tonight to go off without ahitch.
It's the first time all of the Cassadines and Spencers have met fordinner. It's very important that the night go well.
Leslie- It should be interesting to say the least. I understandMiranda
asked that nice young man, Hank to join her. But Alexis and Ned? Theymake a nice couple, but it's hard for me to think of him as oldenough to date a real woman.
They both laugh. The phone rings and Laura gets up to answer it.
Laura- What do you think of Stefan and Bobbie?
Leslie- I haven't decided. What do you think?
Laura picks up the phone.
Laura- Hello......
She suddenly turns very pale
Laura- Are you sure?...... But how did this happen? .......No wehaven't
heard from her....Yes, of course I'll let you know if I do.... Pleasedo the same for us....
Laura hangs up the phone and tries not panic.
Laura- Luke!
Luke and Lucky run downstairs.
Luke- Okay, okay we're ready.
He notices the color has drained from Laura's face.
Luke- Babe, what's wrong?
Laura- It's Helena, She's escaped.